# TLDR Review: Smart Balance Buttery Spread

*Published: 2025-12-27 | Updated: 2025-12-27 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/reviews-tldr/smart-balance-buttery-spread*

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## Product: Smart Balance Buttery Spread
**Brand:** Smart Balance

## Pros
- Tastes very close to real butter while offering a healthier alternative.
- Easy to spread, making it convenient for quick use, especially during busy mornings.
- Non-dairy and gluten-free, suitable for those with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies.
- Supports maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
- Frequently recommended as a tasty substitute for traditional butter.

## Cons
- The product labeled as "Original Smart Balance" no longer matches the original recipe, leading to disappointment.
- Recent batches are described as soft, mushy, and less spreadable compared to the previously firm, knife-scrapable original.
- The oil content appears to have dropped from 64% to about 39%, with less than 2% olive oil, and added water diluting quality.
- Significant changes to ingredients and texture have degraded both taste and health claims.
- An unpleasant, rancid, or fishy oil taste has been reported in new batches.
- Customer service has been criticized for inadequate responses, offering coupons instead of real solutions, and lacking transparency.
- Loyal customers feel misled by the labeling and frustrated by the lack of disclosure about reformulation.
- Many users have switched to competitor brands due to dissatisfaction with this version.
- The packaging no longer emphasizes non-GMO status or the health benefits originally touted.
- The product is softer and greasier than before, losing the original’s desirable mouthfeel.

## Bottom Line

If you’re craving the *original* Smart Balance buttery spread experience, beware—the current formulation falls short in taste, texture, and health benefits, disappointing many long-time fans. The noticeable recipe change, combined with poor customer communication, has led many to jump ship to competitor brands. However, if you want a convenient, dairy-free, and gluten-free butter alternative that spreads easily and still offers some health perks, this might work for you. For those seeking a more consistent and original-quality spread, exploring other brands might be the smarter bet—for now.

## Pros vs Cons at a Glance

| Pros | Cons |
|------|------|
| Tastes very close to real butter while offering a healthier alternative. | The product labeled as "Original Smart Balance" no longer matches the original recipe, leading to disappointment. |
| Easy to spread, making it convenient for quick use, especially during busy mornings. | Recent batches are described as soft, mushy, and less spreadable compared to the previously firm, knife-scrapable original. |
| Non-dairy and gluten-free, suitable for those with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies. | The oil content appears to have dropped from 64% to about 39%, with less than 2% olive oil, and added water diluting quality. |
| Supports maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. | Significant changes to ingredients and texture have degraded both taste and health claims. |
| Frequently recommended as a tasty substitute for traditional butter. | An unpleasant, rancid, or fishy oil taste has been reported in new batches. |
|  | Customer service has been criticized for inadequate responses, offering coupons instead of real solutions, and lacking transparency. |
|  | Loyal customers feel misled by the labeling and frustrated by the lack of disclosure about reformulation. |
|  | Many users have switched to competitor brands due to dissatisfaction with this version. |
|  | The packaging no longer emphasizes non-GMO status or the health benefits originally touted. |
|  | The product is softer and greasier than before, losing the original’s desirable mouthfeel. |

## Current Prices

| Retailer | Price | Availability |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| Schnucks Delivers | $4.59  | Check |
| Reasor's | $4.89  | Check |
| Lucky Supermarkets | $4.99  | Check |
| rehmie.com | $6.36  | Check |
| Boxed Market | $7.29  | Check |
| Walgreens | $7.99  | Check |
| CVS (photo) | $9.29  | Check |
| 123 Office | $58.47  | Check |
| Zoro | $139.99  | Check |

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*About this review: We pulled together findings from professional and user reviews, and cross-referenced them with ShopSavvy's pricing data from thousands of retailers to give you the short version.*